Pat Conroy Literary Center

About Pat Conroy

Pat Conroy was born in Atlanta, GA, on October 26, 1945. He was born into a military family that moved to several bases throughout the south and eventually attended The Citadel, a military college in Charleston, SC. After college, he taught English and psychology at Beaufort High School.

 During this time, in 1969, he took a job teaching children in need on Daufuskie Island. He was eventually fired from his teaching job for unconventional teaching practices and refusal to use corporal punishment. This job led to him writing his memoir The Water is Wide and his career as an author took off. He would write several critically acclaimed novels that were adapted into films, such as The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, and The Prince of Tides.

History of the Center

In early January 2016, beloved author Pat Conroy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sadly, he lost his battle less than two months later and passed away on March 4, 2016. Two days later, Pat's friend of 40 years and literary agent, Marly Rusoff, was searching for a way to honor Pat and his legacy. She suggested that a nonprofit organization to help writers, inspire readers, and honor teachers and mentors is something that Pat would have wanted. The plans for the center were quickly put in motion.

Due to Pat's love of Beaufort and the Lowcountry, it was decided the center would be located there. On October 21, 2016, the Pat Conroy Literary Center opened its doors to the public in its first location at 308 Charles Street in Beaufort. It would eventually be moved to its permanent and current location at 601 Bladen Street in 2021.

About


“The Pat Conroy Literary Center will cultivate a passionate and inclusive reading and writing community in honor of Pat Conroy, who dedicated his life to spreading his love for literature and writing to future generations.” - From the Pat Conroy Literary Center website. The center aims to provide book clubs, writing groups, and writing classes for writers of all levels and ages.

About

“The Pat Conroy Literary Center will cultivate a passionate and inclusive reading and writing community in honor of Pat Conroy, who dedicated his life to spreading his love for literature and writing to future generations.” - From the Pat Conroy Literary Center website. The center aims to provide book clubs, writing groups, and writing classes for writers of all levels and ages.

About


“The Pat Conroy Literary Center will cultivate a passionate and inclusive reading and writing community in honor of Pat Conroy, who dedicated his life to spreading his love for literature and writing to future generations.” - From the Pat Conroy Literary Center website. The center aims to provide book clubs, writing groups, and writing classes for writers of all levels and ages.

Literary Center Features

The Pat Conroy Literary Center is in a beautiful location with waterfront views. A love letter to Pat Conroy and literary enthusiasts, the center has several curated artifacts from Pat’s life on display. It also features several rooms used for events, including an education room and rooms named in honor of writers Cassandra King and Anne Rivers Siddons.

If you want a guided tour of the center, public tours are available Thursday through Sunday from 12 PM to 4PM. For a more personal experience, you can also book private tours and book discussions. At the end of your tour, look through the unique offerings in the gift shop. The shop has a variety of books and even a limited collection of autographed Pat Conroy novels for sale!

Literary Center Features

The Pat Conroy Literary Center is in a beautiful location with waterfront views. A love letter to Pat Conroy and literary enthusiasts, the center has several curated artifacts from Pat’s life on display. It also features several rooms used for events, including an education room and rooms named in honor of writers Cassandra King and Anne Rivers Siddons.

If you want a guided tour of the center, public tours are available Thursday through Sunday from 12 PM to 4PM. For a more personal experience, you can also book private tours and book discussions. At the end of your tour, look through the unique offerings in the gift shop. The shop has a variety of books and even a limited collection of autographed Pat Conroy novels for sale!

Literary Center Features

The Pat Conroy Literary Center is in a beautiful location with waterfront views. A love letter to Pat Conroy and literary enthusiasts, the center has several curated artifacts from Pat’s life on display. It also features several rooms used for events, including an education room and rooms named in honor of writers Cassandra King and Anne Rivers Siddons.

If you want a guided tour of the center, public tours are available Thursday through Sunday from 12 PM to 4PM. For a more personal experience, you can also book private tours and book discussions. At the end of your tour, look through the unique offerings in the gift shop. The shop has a variety of books and even a limited collection of autographed Pat Conroy novels for sale!

Events

Books are not the only enjoyable feature available at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. There are also many events, such as visiting authors, book launches, workshops, open mic nights, and so much more. Two annual events to look out for are the annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival and Camp Conroy.

Pat Conroy Literary Festival

A festival in honor of Pat Conroy that features poetry readings, writing workshops a film screening and musical performance. Several writers, poets and instructors gather together to make this event special!

Camp Conroy

Camp Conroy is a summer camp for young writers ages 8 to 14. Campers will learn to research, write, illustrate, edit, design and publish a book together.

Events

Books are not the only enjoyable feature available at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. There are also many events, such as visiting authors, book launches, workshops, open mic nights, and so much more. Two annual events to look out for are the annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival and Camp Conroy.

Pat Conroy Literary Festival

A festival in honor of Pat Conroy that features poetry readings, writing workshops a film screening and musical performance. Several writers, poets and instructors gather together to make this event special!

Camp Conroy

Camp Conroy is a summer camp for young writers ages 8 to 14. Campers will learn to research, write, illustrate, edit, design and publish a book together.